In the past, couples were satisfied with taking pictures at the church and reception hall. Then one day someone decided it would be cool to take pictures outdoors. I have no idea when taking outdoor photos became a trend, but the fact is it is now a must have for every brides photo album. I found this out while helping my sister plan her wedding. Every photographer that we met had displayed very few pictures of a bride and groom in a church, but instead they all posted huge poster-sized photos of couples in beautiful outdoor locations!
Suddenly these everyday wedding couples turned into models. It seemed simple for the photographer to take any pretty location, a happy couple, and add on some professional photo effects to make something that was more than just a photo. Instead it was a work of art. Does this sound interesting to you? Then read on to find how to pick a great location for your photos, plus some local places for Michigan Brides to check out.
What types of places should I look for?
Here comes the hard part, finding a place that is not only photogenic, but is also going to work for you. Following are some tips to help you decide where and what kinds of photos you want:
1: Think of your favorite places. It is time to think outside the box! If there is a certain place that is really special to you and your spouse, this is the first place you should look. For example, my brother grew up near Detroit and he made a point to stop at Comerica Park to take a few pictures with the Tiger. These are fun pictures that they are sure to always remember because it is unique and captures a part of their personal history.
Other examples are: the place where you and your fiance first met, the location of your first date, a place you two visit together often that is special to you. Perhaps you just want to stop at some hot spots around town. Whatever the case may be, only do this IF you are willing to let go of your inhibitions. If you are too shy or embarrassed to take photos in front of people who may think you are cuckoo, then you better pass on this idea. By the way, people will think you are cuckoo if you are taking photos in front of the ice cream shop where you had your first date. However, if you know you can open up and just have fun with it, I guarantee you will love your fun and unique pics!
2: What do you find pretty? Some couples find beauty in historical landmarks, houses, and things of that nature. If this is something you enjoy also, check out your local historical hot spots. Many of these historical places are now turned into parks where any visitor can stop by for pictures.
3: Find the water! For some reason I associate outdoor photos with water. It seems like having a lake, pond, river or even the ocean (if you live on the coast) in the background can make any wedding photo just pop. Busy public areas may not be promising as there will likely be a lot of people around, however check out the small lakes and rivers that run by your town. Even if it is just a tiny pond, your photographer should be able to focus on the water in a way that makes it look great in your pictures.
4: Plants and Trees. Plant life is perhaps the main pull for taking photos outside. Almost any tree can add a great backdrop to your photos, and trees can be found in almost any park. OR, if you have a relative with a forest in the backyard, you can even use that! Flowers are more popular in wedding photos, so if you love the thought of a background full of blooming flowers, think about visiting some local gardens or (once again) historical landmarks which are often decorated with flowers. You have to think about the time of year you are taking photos as well since there won’t be many flowers found in February, but there will be lots in the summer.
5: Props. If you don’t think you can take photos with just water and plants, seek a place that has props. Many parks and other places have pretty gazebos, bridges, fences, and other props that can really add to your photos. These props can also be a great way for your photographer to mix it up a little and provide some variety in your photos.
6: Other ideas. Now that you have an idea of what types of pictures other people take, now you can branch out to think of any other place that comes to mind. Last month I was at a mall with a carousel and saw an entire bridal party come in and ride the carousel for pictures. It was cute and a very unique idea. As mentioned, ideas like this only work if you have the guts to be silly in public.
Once I have an idea, how do I find a place?
Now the research begins! If you live in Southeast Michigan, you can skip down to see things that I already researched. If you live elsewhere, here are some ideas to help you find some local places.
1: Find a park, any park. Start by going to your county’s website, or even just driving around to find local parks, lakes, ponds, etc. Make a list of places to visit and explore further. Seek out pictures online to make the future steps easier and quicker.
2: Find historical land. Next, even if historical buildings isn’t your thing, you may still find that these places have many pretty backdrops outside of just buildings. Research online to find what kind of historical places are in your town.
3: TheKnot Forums. Visit the forums on www.theknot.com or any other wedding website. TheKnot has a local wedding board so you can find your local area, and chat with others to ask their ideas on where to take photos in your area.
4: Make some phone calls. Before you get too excited about any particular place, call their offices (if there is any) to make sure of the following:
-Verify you have permission to shot photos at their location
-Find out if there are any fees involved
-Find out if you are allowed to “book” the place and also make sure no one has booked it already for the time you need it.
5: Do some footwork. With your list AND a digital camera in hand, take a few members of your bridal party to check out the locations. Take pictures of the locations for further review. You can even make your friends pose for some just for fun. Snap a picture of anything you find interesting about the place so you can remember it later. Don’t look at the place in general, but instead look for photo opportunities. A certain place can look dull and drab when you look at the OVERALL area, however if you focus on that group of trees over there, or that gazebo over here, you may see many beautiful photo ops! Remember that your photographer can make the best of almost any area and will be sure to showcase it in a way that looks gorgeous no matter what.
6: The Time Factor: You have to also account for the Time you will need to drive to the location. If you have 3 hours between your ceremony and your reception, but the place you want is 1 hour away, that might not be enough time for you to really take good pictures. Be sure to plan your wedding day schedule before deciding on a place so that you know exactly how much time you have available. Once you know your time constraints, use yahoo maps to find out how long it takes to get from your ceremony to the outdoor location, and then back to your reception. Add buffer time on the trip to allow for things that go wrong. This may help you eliminate places that are just too far, OR you may find yourself rescheduling your day so you can hit the place you wanted the most.
7: Decisions, Decisions. Back at home, review your photos to pick your favorites. Pick your first choice and at least one backup choice just in case something goes wrong with your top choice.
That’s it! Easy isn’t it? Ok, you might think that is a lot of work, but just imagine how much you are going to enjoy the photos. When I was searching for locations, I quickly found some options. However I wasn’t satisfied with them! So I searched and searched until I finally found the beautiful place I picked. Now people see my pictures and they ask me “Where is that? Can I go there?”.
Is this going to cost me?
To be honest, it very well could cost you if you are determined to use a certain location, and that certain location is determined to charge you. However, if you are not dead-set on one particular place, you will definitely be able to find a FREE location to take pictures… it just may take a little footwork on your part.
Places that might charge you: Basically if the place is GORGEOUS, they will probably charge you to use it. There are a few local places by me that are beautifully manicured and taken care of very well…. so of course they won’t let you take pictures for free. I chalk it up to the cost it takes to pay the employees that keep the place in shape. You may also find that historical places will charge you for use of their property. This could be anywhere from $100-400 for just a few hours at the location. On the plus side, most places that charge you will also ensure no one else will be on the property distracting your photo time.
Places that probably won’t charge you: Public parks or landmarks will most likely not charge you, but at the same time they won’t be able to guarantee that no one else will be in your way on that particular day. As for the idea above about taking pics at your favorite places in town, those places are not likely to charge you, and are not even that likely to notice you taking pictures! However be prepared for many onlookers. This is not to say that there are always other people at the free locations, but you should be prepared for that.
What if it rains?
Oh the horror… You’ve planned everything out, found a beautiful location, and the day of your wedding it pours ALL day? What do you do? This is why you need a backup plan. Find an Indoor location that is also pretty for you to take photos if it comes down to it. My hall had a pretty entrance with a spiral staircase as well as some other features so I knew that if worse came to worse I could take photos here. In fact, we did take some photos there anyway, but we could have taken all of our pics if we had to.
Also check out your church and visit the other rooms. Some churches have very nice reception areas or rooms that could be used for photos if you are stuck. Look at the hotel you are staying at as well since they usually have nice lobbies and sometimes highly decorated areas where photos would be great. Another option could be as simple as your own home. If you have a nice decor, or could add some flowers and backdrops, you may find your house to be a great backup plan for photos. Whatever you do, make sure you plan ahead and have an indoor location picked out as a backup.
Who do you bring with you?
This is purely up to you! You could have your entire bridal party go to each location with you, including parents. I opted to just have the bridesmaids and groomsmen to make things a little easier and took all my family pictures at the church. A third option is for you and your spouse to go it alone. Perhaps you are just looking for some romantic outdoor pictures and you don’t want anyone else around.
Let’s explore those options a little further for the pros and cons.
WHOLE Bridal Party: On the plus side, you can take pictures with your parents and everyone else using the pretty backdrops of your location. On the down side, your parents have to travel with you, usually driving separate from you since you and your attendants are probably in a limo, and your parents have little to no break in between the ceremony and the wedding. If your parents are having family at their house in between, they would miss most of this time as they would be taking photos with you. As an option, you can have your parents come and take your family photos FIRST so that your parents can head home while you finish up with the rest of your bridal party.
Bridesmaids and Groomsmen: This includes flower girls and ring-bearers, but that is also optional. The plus side of bringing your bridal party is that you can take lots of fun pictures. Being outdoors usually leads to more ideas for unique pics, silly pics, or cool pics that you will all remember. The only downside is that your bridal party may get bored and/or restless when you and your spouse are taking couple photos. You can always stash some food and drinks in the limos and tell them to go eat when you are done with them so you can get some alone time.
Just Us: If you really don’t care about taking your bridal party pics outside at all, then just make it a private escape. The pro is that your photographer has a lot more time with just the two of you so that she can set up a lot of different and romantic shots. Since no one you know would be around to tease you, you may be more willing to take serious pictures or other types that you normally wouldn’t take in front of other people. On the downside, it would not be as fun in my opinion. Spending the whole day with your bridal party is definitely more fun. You have years and years to be alone with your new spouse, so if you don’t feel the need to be alone with each other now than bring the group.
Where could I take pics in Southeast Michigan?
Like I said, it takes a lot of footwork to find a place that is good for you and works for your purposes and times. Since I already did a lot of that footwork, here are some ideas for you. Some are free, some are pricey, some will take more research from you, it all depends on what you are willing to do.
1: Mill Race
I choose this place after I found a picture of a wedding couple online that said the picture was taken in Northville, MI. I asked around until I finally learned this was Mill Race. I called and they said they were available for a few hours for me to take photos that day… and those few hours perfectly coincided with my wedding day schedule! Best of all, it was free! Check out my attachments for photos that we took there*. They do not allow people to book the park for photos, so there was a risk of other guests visiting, or someone else booking the park for an event and preventing me from using it. The person I spoke to said she would start asking us to leave 15 minutes before the planned event that was scheduled, but that she wouldn’t toss us out as long as we were wrapping up. When we went, there was no visitors. However, you still have to call and check because they do allow people to book the place for wedding ceremonies. Call in advance, and then call again when the time comes closer just to make sure it is still open. Have a back up plan in case it is not.
Mill Race is located at 215 Griswold, Northville, MI. Be sure to visit before the wedding day so you don’t get lost! Print maps for your limo driver and photographer.
2: Newburgh Lake (Pointe)
This was my back up plan. As a public area, there was no worry of this place being booked. Check out my attachments for photos I took when I went to check it out. This pretty location has the background of the lake, as well as some interesting benches, stairs, and trees that can be used to make very nice backdrops. Just be forewarned that since this is a public park, you may have some onlookers as you are taking photos. You may have onlookers in ANY park though, so just get used to it!
Newburgh Lake is located at Edward Hines and Newburgh Road, Livonia, MI. Another semi-confusing place, so find it before you plan it!
3. Greenmead Historical Park
I have never been here but I was recommended by a few friends to check it out. I called and did find out it was free to take pictures, however it was slightly complicated as they wanted to set a meeting with me to come see the park rather than just letting me go. I had this in my back pocket as a “just in case” place, but since my 1 and 2 seemed to work out, I never ended up visiting. Apparently it’s a nice Historical area that is kept in decent shape for visitors.
Greenmead Historical Park is located at 20501 N Newburgh Road, Livonia, MI.
4. Governer Warner Mansion
If you have cash to burn, or you are willing to pay for a great location, this place looks great. I’ve never been since I called and they said they charge something like $300 for permission to take photos, however their website is full of pics displaying their beautiful gardens, benches, at least one gazebo and more. At one point I had found a garden tour showcasing so many pretty flowers at this location, but I can’t seem to find the link now. It’s probably better just to visit yourself! You should be able to negotiate being able to do a quick walkthrough for free so you can see the location.
Governor Warner Mansion and Museum is located at 33805 Grand River Avenue, Farmington, MI. Very pretty and well manicured, but pricey!
5: Heritage Park
This location had a very pretty gazebo and a lake, however they also charged for usage. I believe they stated around $200. Besides that, the gazebo was the only thing I really liked about the place. However, if you take a look at there website, you may find more photo ops for you. It’s worth checking out if you are really looking for the best place for you.
Heritage Park is located at Heritage Park Dr., west of Canton Center, south of Cherry Hill.
6. Kellogg Park
This location has a very nice fountain that would make a great backdrop for photos, however I’m not sure what else the park has to offer. It is worth checking out if you live in or near Plymouth.
Kellogg Park is located at North Main in Plymouth, MI. In the link, click to see the Parks Brochure and on page 2 you will see thefountain.
7: Meadowbrook Hall
If you have the time, or live closer to Meadowbrook Hall in … MI, you should definitely check it out. See attached photo* as we took our engagement photos there. Also free, this location is very pretty and can lead to many beautiful photos! Please note, while we were able to take our engagement pictures for free, our photographer did note that they will probably charge if you want to take wedding photos there. Please also note that people may book areas of the hall for events and weddings and therefore you may not be allowed to take pictures everywhere, or maybe not even at all. Call to figure this out before you fall in love with th
Meadowbrook Hall is located at Oakland University in Rochester, MI. Plenty of pretty photo ops at this location.
8: Hines Drive, Local Parks etc.
I’ve listed a place along Hines Drive already, but wanted to note that there are many pretty locations along Hines Drive! A lot of them may not look the greatest at first, but as mentioned above, if you focus on certain aspects of Hines Drive you can find some very nice photo ops. If you are really stuck for where to take pictures, try driving up and down Hines Drive, taking pictures of your favorite spots. You should find plenty of places to take pics. Check out this map of Wayne County as well as Hines Drives parks for some locations and pictures.
The same can be said for almost any local park. Even though you may have been to a certain park, and you didn’t think it was very pretty, I ask you to visit again. Once again, put your camera goggles on and only look for photo ops. I bet that even your local school park has a few spots that would make for pretty photos. Check out this map of Livonia, MI Parks or this map of Canton, MI Parks or this map of Plymouth, MI Parks for a starting point.
Wrapping it all up
In the end, if having pretty outdoor photos is important to you, then you will need to do some research in order to get it just right. It would be easy to say “I’ll just go to this park”, but with the amount you are probably spending on photographers, it would be nice to get the BEST place you can find instead of the everyday place. Even if you think you have time to figure this out, it’s a good idea to start planning early in case you have to book a place in advance. Enjoy your searching!!
*Photos taken by www.ejphotos.com
